In “Masters of the Universe,” He-Man’s nemesis is the evil wizard Skeletor. In Hollywood, his best risk has been an inventory of studio companions which have sidelined him from the massive display for practically 20 years.
The blond barbarian, based mostly on a well-liked set of Mattel toys, might lastly win the day. Amazon MGM Studios is in severe talks to mount a live-action “Masters of the Universe” film from Adam and Aaron Nee, the writing and directing group behind “The Misplaced Metropolis,” in keeping with a number of insiders. Conversations are happening with Amazon after Netflix dropped a deliberate model of the Nee brothers movie in July.
Netflix spent practically $30 million in growth prices over two years for the venture, which was meant to star Kyle Allen (“A Haunting in Venice”). The streamer walked away when the tentpole’s finances, initially set for greater than $200 million, couldn’t be meaningfully decreased.
The Amazon talks are tenuous, one other supply cautions, however ought to the studio advance, it might want to shut new offers with the Nees for a script polish and to direct. Allen remains to be within the combine to star as He-Man. Mattel and producer Todd Black, who has been dedicated to the movie throughout a number of former studio houses, together with Warner Bros. and Sony, can even be looking for a major theatrical launch — one thing that was not fairly on the desk at Netflix. Amazon MGM and Mattel had no remark.
Like all good superhero story, this deal has an antagonist that threatens its very existence. The rights to “Masters” are entangled in a dizzying internet, one which stretches again greater than a decade to when DreamWorks Animation bought them as half of a bigger content material library. The deal mentioned Mattel might exploit “Masters” characters for filmed variations by means of 2026, two sources say. As DWA is now owned by NBCUniversal, this implies the conglomerate might intervene with any potential sequels that Amazon MGM would wish to develop — an important possibility a producer wants when investing a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in a giant film.
NBCU and Mattel have been in talks for weeks over a doable extension of the rights, sources say, and should attain a deal. A spokesperson for NBCUniversal declined to remark.
A number of insiders say the finances is hovering under $200 million (roughly $170 million, in keeping with one supply). Ought to the rights negotiations pan out, it could symbolize the primary massive kill for Amazon’s new head of theatrical movie and streaming, Courtenay Valenti. Earlier than coming to Amazon, Valenti was head of manufacturing at Warner Bros., the place she labored on the studio’s adaptation of Mattel’s “Barbie.” Its success, which incorporates $1.4 billion on the worldwide field workplace and Oscar buzz, could also be motivating her to make a deal for He-Man.
The “Masters” characters invoke main nostalgia in some audiences and are the premise of a well-liked modern animated collection on Netflix. Coupled with the Nees’ aptitude for splashy big-screen adventures (they had been lately employed to develop a brand new tackle the “Lego” motion pictures at Common), Amazon could be justified in its visions of a mighty franchise.
Mattel shouldn’t be ravenous for studio companions or growth properties. After “Barbie,” motion pictures based mostly on Magic 8 Ball, Sizzling Wheels, Polly Pocket and Uno are gestating throughout city with renewed fervor. However you’ve received handy it to He-Man — he by no means stops making an attempt to interrupt out of the field and leap onto the display.
